How to Get to Hawaii

The road to Hana is one of the most picturesque drives you can take in Hawaii. Perhaps it could also be one of the most scenic drives in the world. The Hana Highway takes you to the idyllic town of Hana on the island of Maui. The approximately 64 mile journey from Kahului to Hana can take 2 ½ hours, provided you don’t stop along the way. But you should stop by as many places as you can. This is because the when driving to Hana, the goal should not be the destination, but the journey.

Things to See Along the Road to Hana

Plan on making your sure-to-be memorable trip a whole day affair. This is because there are a lot of things to see. Additionally, most of the road will be narrow and winding with more than 600 curves. There are 59 bridges along the way. But 46 of them can only be traversed by cars going in the same direction. The highway is also on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Waterfalls

There are many interesting and scenic stops that you should see on the Hana Highway. You can visit one of innumerable secluded waterfalls in a lush tropical setting. The abundant rainfall along the northern slopes of Haleakala creates these memorable waterfalls. Here are some of the more notable ones. You can find Twin Falls at Mile Marker 2, Upper Waikani Falls or the Three Bears at Mile Marker 19. There are also Hanawai Falls at Mile Marker 24 and Wailua Falls at Mile Marker 45.

Wayside Parks

There are a number of quiet and beautiful public roadside areas. The Kaumahina, Wailua Valley and the Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Parks are examples. Stop at any one of these parks to take a break from your drive. Here, you can also enjoy some of Maui’s best places for leisurely strolls and relaxation. In addition to waterfalls and parks, there are numerous scenic lookout spots as well as roadside stands. At these places, you can sample exotic fruits and other locally made food products.

View from a scenic lookout along the road to Hana.

Gardens and Arboretums

Other very notable places to stop include the Garden of Eden Arboretum and the Keanae Arboretum. Here, you can see a large number of native plants and farm crops on display. You should also stop by the Kahanu Garden which is a part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Once a sugar plantation and pasture, the garden now showcases Hawaiian plants, history and culture. The area is also home to the Pi’ilanihale Heiau or temple, one of the largest in all of Polynesia.

The Town of Hana

Once you get to the town of Hana, take the time to explore its sights and attractions. One of the things you definitely do is to head out to Wai’anapanapa State Park. It features the black sand beach, Pa’iloa. You can also visit the Wai’anapanapa freshwater caves which are good examples of anchialine pools. Anchialine pools are landlocked bodies of water with a subterranean connection to the ocean. Such pools are unique to places where there are aquifers within lava coastal bedrock.

Another must see place in Hana is the rustic and inventory-crammed Hasegawa General Store. The store sells almost anything and everything to the local Hana residents and visitors. It has been a long-time part of the island’s lore and culture.

Kipahulu

Don’t plan on just stopping in Hana. There is still much to see beyond this town. In Kipahulu, stop by the Palapala Ho’omau Church. At this place, you can visit the grave of one of America’s most famous aviators, Charles Lindbergh. In his latter years, Lindbergh and his wife lived in this part of Maui on a half time basis. He loved it so much he wanted to be buried here when he died in 1974.

Another very famous attraction in the Kipahulu area is the Ohe’o Gulch or Seven Sacred Pools. Here, you can find waterfalls, picturesque freshwater swimming pools, forest trails, waterfalls and a historic heiau. This area, stretching down from Haleakala’s summit, was added to Haleakala National Park in 1969.

Seven Sacred Pools in Kipahulu.

For information on how to travel to Hawaii in the most inexpensive way possible, check out our Get to Hawaii website for a wide range of Hawaii vacation packages to Honolulu, Maui, Kona, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai.